NEW DELHI: All eyes were on Team India as they went into their Asia Cup Campaign opener against the UAE. After winning the toss and choosing to field, India's bowling lineup, with only 4 full-timers, were tasked with restricting UAE to a low score in the first innings. And not only did Team India succeed in doing so, but they passed the test with flying colours.

And in the middle of it all was the spin maestro Kuldeep Yadav, along with the finishing act of Shivam Dube, this time with a ball in hand.

UAE were already struggling in the opening period at 47/2 in 8 overs. But what followed was an absolute massacre. Kuldeep Yadav came in to bowl the 9th over and left with three wickets to his name. Then the surprise in the playing XI took the ball in hand and picked up three wickets with Axar Patel chipping in one.

All of a sudden, UAE found themselves at 55/9. And ofcourse, bowling just his 13th ball of the innings, Kuldeep picked up his fourth to bundle out UAE for 57 runs. In doing so, Kuldeep missed out on a hat-trick opportunity, but who cares when you have just orchestrated the lowest opponent total in T20Is against India.

UAE's 57 all out broke the previous lowest score against India which stood at 66 against New Zealand in Ahmedabad in 2023. The next two scores on the list are of 70 that Ireland managed to score followed by England's 80 in 2012.

UAE's total ranks 2nd in the list of the lowest T20I totals in their country only behind West Indies' 55 against England. The next three on the list are UAE's 62 against Scotland, Ireland's 71 against Afghanistan, and Kenya's 73 against Papua New Guinea.

Thanks to India's brilliance with the ball and UAE's batting collapse, India managed to finish the match within just 27 balls of the 2nd Innings. But all credit goes to the Chinaman bowler whose 4/7 figures on the night are testament to his talent.